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1971 Washington State Cougars football
ConferencePacific-8 Conference
1971 record4–7 (2–5 Pac-8)
Head coachJim Sweeney (4th season)
Home stadiumJoe Albi Stadium (Spokane, WA)
Seasons
← 1970
1972 →

Template:1971 Pacific-8 football standings The 1971 Washington State Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Washington State University in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) during the 1971 college football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Jim Sweeney, they compiled a 4–7 record (2–5 in Pac-8, seventh), and were outscored 286 to 246.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included junior quarterback Ty Payne with 1,206 passing yards, senior running back Bernard Jackson with 1,189 rushing yards, and wide receiver Ike Nelson with 349 receiving yards.[3][4]

The Cougars defeated No.10 Stanford, the defending and future Rose Bowl champions, in Palo Alto on October 23,[5] but lost their third straight Apple Cup.[6] Washington State did not play the Battle of the Palouse in 1971, and neighbor Idaho had their best season to date, winning eight consecutive games.

Due to the fire damage to Rogers Field in Pullman in April 1970,[7] the Cougars played their entire home schedule eighty miles (130 km) north of campus at Joe Albi Stadium in Spokane in 1970 and 1971.[8]

Schedule[]

DateTimeOpponentSiteResult
September 1111:30 AMat Kansas*
L 0–34
September 181:30 PMArizona*
L 28–39
September 25at Minnesota*W 31–20
October 212:30 PMat Utah*
W 34–12
October 91:30 PMUCLA
  • Joe Albi Stadium
  • Spokane, WA
L 21–34
October 161:30 PMCalifornia
  • Joe Albi Stadium
  • Spokane, WA
L 23–24
October 231:30 PMat No. 10 Stanford
W 24–23
October 301:30 PMOregon
  • Joe Albi Stadium
  • Spokane, WA
W 31–21
November 61:30 PMat No. 17 USCL 20–30
November 131:30 PMat Oregon State
L 14–21
November 201:30 PMat WashingtonL 20–28
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Pacific time

Source:[9]

NFL Draft[]

Two Cougars were selected in the 1972 NFL Draft

Player Position Round Overall Franchise
Bernard Jackson DB/RB 4 81 Cincinnati Bengals
John Van Reenen DE 14 351 San Diego Chargers
Source:[10]

References[]

  1. "1971 Washington State Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1971-schedule.html. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  2. "2016 Media Guide". Washington State Cougars Athletics. p. 76. http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/wsu.sidearmsports.com/documents/2016/8/25/2016_Football_Media_Guide_Color.pdf. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  3. "1971 Washington State Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/washington-state/1971.html. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  4. Missildine, Harry (September 18, 1971). "Cougs have ample reason to exhibit hostility today". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 14. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ex9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Qe0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5707%2C924944.
  5. Missildine, Harry (October 24, 1971). "Cool Cougs earn sweet victory". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 1, sports. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5ftLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=juwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6331%2C3656085.
  6. Missildine, Harry (November 20, 1971). "Washington wins weirdly". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 1, sports. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MPAjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BO0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6634%2C2552845.
  7. "Fast blaze ruins Pullman stadium". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 1. April 6, 1970. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qMJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZOsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6745%2C2071379.
  8. Leeson, Fred (December 19, 1971). "Stadium to proceed". Spokesman-Review ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 6, sports. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ES1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=U-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=7143%2C1832977.
  9. College Football @ Sports-Reference.com
  10. "17th round ends draft". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press ((Spokane, Washington)): p. 15. February 3, 1972. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=e9kvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Su0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6952%2C531923.

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